FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT SETBACK - PAGE 4

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Brian Smith, his family and some friends made their traditional postgame retreat to nearby Main Street Pub last Saturday night, decompressing from the swell of Senior Day emotions at Notre Dame. That afternoon, Smith had been a defensive bulwark, leading the Irish in tackles in a season-reviving upset of Utah in his final game at Notre Dame Stadium. The storyline was warm and satisfying, but no one talked about it because no one was surprised by it. "What he did on Saturday isn't anything he doesn't think he's capable of doing any given Saturday," said Chris Smith, Brian's father and a former Irish player.

A federal judge in New York denied a request to block a $78-a-share buyout of Burlington Industries Inc. by a group led by the investment bank Morgan Stanley & Co. The ruling was a setback for the investor partnership led by New York financier Asher B. Edelman and Montreal-based Dominion Textile Inc., which offered $77 a share.

The City Council this week approved a reduced side parking setback requirement for a proposed Bank of America branch with a drive-through at Bricher and Randall Roads. City Planning Director Dick Untch told aldermen last week that, at the direction of city staff, the plan had been reworked. It now includes additional green space and more connections to a nearby bike path. The approved design includes architectural elements that are compatible with Geneva Commons nearby. Portions of the building are expected to be leased to business tenants, officials said.

The nonprofit Razorback Foundation was dismissed Wednesday from a discrimination lawsuit filed by former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson. U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson said there was insufficient evidence that the foundation and the university were Richardson's joint employer.

(Fixes headline, no change to copy) * Defending champion expects to be fit for Australian Open * Been carrying injury for around 10 days By Will Swanton BRISBANE, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka's Australian Open preparations were complicated on Friday when "a bad pedicure experience" forced the world number one to withdraw from her Brisbane International semi-final against Serena Williams. Thirty minutes before the match against her American opponent, the defending Australian Open champion announced she would be unable to compete after undergoing a minor procedure to fix an ingrown nail that infected her right big toe. "It's been there for about 10 days," the 23-year-old Belarussian told reporters.

The Naperville City Council has rejected a proposal to consider increasing side-yard setbacks in the Oak Hills subdivision in an effort to create a buffer between existing dwellings and new, large homes. The issue has become all too common in a city that is experiencing a growing number of teardowns. Some Oak Hills residents called for the proposed zoning amendment because they believe homes being torn down in the subdivision are being replaced with larger ones that are not compatible with the character of the neighborhood.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Right rotator cuff tendinitis will prevent Jake Peavy from pitching Thursday and probably through the start of the regular season. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen all but made sure of that after Peavy disclosed Sunday his discomfort started after his March 4 start and gradually felt worse. "Jake Peavy will pitch the day I tell him to pitch," Guillen said of Peavy, who originally was on schedule to pitch April 6 at Kansas City. "He's not going to convince me. I don't care.

OAKLAND, Calif. - While not on the level of, say, Michael Jordan breaking a bone in his foot, Oracle Arena continued to be a House of Horrors for the Bulls. And that was even before Friday night's late tipoff against the Warriors in a building in which Jordan suffered his infamous injury in October 1985 and where the Bulls had lost nine of their previous 11 games. After practice Thursday afternoon, an upbeat and fully engaged Kirk Hinrich said, barring an overnight setback, he would try to return from the stress reaction in his right foot that had sidelined him for the previous five games.

Josh McCown, come on down and collect your NFC offensive player of the week award! You can take it with you back to the bench. Such is life for the NFL's hottest backup quarterback. McCown this week is expected to yield to Bears' first-stringer Jay Cutler, who's positioned to return Sunday against the Browns from the high left ankle sprain that has sidelined him for the last four games. Coach Marc Trestman on Thursday morning plans to reinstall Cutler as the starter, barring an unexpected setback during or after the workout Cutler performed for team coaches and medical staff Wednesday.

White Sox third baseman Brent Morel pulled himself from a rehab game at AAA Charlotte Thursday and is returning to Chicago for tests on his ailing back. Morel played eight games with Charlotte while rehabbing from a lumbar back strain. He will be examined in Chicago to determine the next step. In his absence, the Sox signed veteran infielder Orlando Hudson to take over at third. The backup is Eduardo Escobar and manager Robbin Ventura said he was comfortable with the pairing.